The full Senate is the next stop for legislation aimed at
increasing high school graduation rates throughout Oklahoma. Senate Bill
2139, by Sen. John
Ford, won unanimous approval by the Senate Education Committee on
Monday. Ford said a new study by the Alliance for Excellent Education
shows how important this issue is to Oklahoma's economy.

"According to this new report, if the 14,500 dropouts from 2008 alone
had earned their diplomas, Oklahoma's economy would have seen an additional
$3.8 billion in wages over those students' lifetimes," said Ford,
chairman of the Education Committee. "In addition, we would have
saved millions on remedial education, health care costs and in corrections."

Ford, who represents Craig, Nowata and Washington counties, explained
SB 2139 would create a formula for schools to set new graduation targets.
Those schools would be given two years to meet those goals. Schools unable
to meet their graduation goal would receive assistance from the State
Department of Education to develop and implement a plan to improve graduation
rates.

"Right now we're losing on the average a fourth of all students who
begin high school--the numbers are even higher in some districts,"
Ford said. "Ensuring more students graduate will create a better
future for them, and a better economy for our entire state."